The United Workers Party, for the longest while, has been calling on Prime Minister Philip J Pierre to ring the election bell. Now that the bell has been rang, an opportune time presents itself to show the stewardship of the Allen Chastanet led United Workers Party (UWP) and the Philip J Pierre led Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP).
Understanding that the UWP is in opposition and therefore cannot show slate in terms of projects started and completed for the 2021/2025 period, what the UWP can show to Saint Lucians is a blue print of how they can continue with the path of progress Saint Lucia is presently on.
Now that should not be a difficult thing for any serious opposition party to do. A serious opposition party, particularly one calling for a general election, should not wait for an election date to show citizens its plans for continuity of the country’s development, not merely from an infrastructural perspective but from a human perspective most of all.
The development of Saint Lucia’s only asset, which is its people, should be the UWP’s major topic of presentation at this time.
Sadly, we are not seeing this as being the case. Not only has the UWP failed to present a credible alternative to the Saint Lucia Labour Party, whose record since August 2021 reflects tangible progress, fiscal discipline, and people-centred development, but, up to this day, it still engages in rhetoric that has no place in the evolving landscape of politics.
The SLP has a track record of progress that is rooted in people, a fact any truth speaking, country loving Saint Lucian will agree with. Since assuming office in August 2021, the Saint Lucia Labour Party under Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has delivered a series of transformative initiatives that directly uplift Saint Lucians.
From the youth economy, a pioneering initiative that empowers young Saint Lucians to become entrepreneurs, creators, and contributors to national development, to health care and education investments with increased allocations and reforms that aimed to make these services more accessible and equitable, the SLP government has shown that these are not just programmes, but visions for generational equity.
Make no mistake, the SLP, on entering the halls of governance in 2021, inherited a fiscal mess, yet it chose not to wallow in blame but to rebuild with purpose. Among its most notable achievements:
Debt-to-GDP Reduction: The SLP government has made strides in stabilizing the economy, reducing the debt-to-GDP ratio, and restoring investor confidence. Community Infrastructure: From road rehabilitation to school upgrades, the government has prioritized infrastructure that serves people—not vanity projects. Healthcare and Education Investments: Increased allocations and reforms have aimed to make these services more accessible and equitable.
Transparency and Governance: Pierre’s administration has emphasized anti-corruption, fiscal accountability, and participatory governance, contrasting sharply with the opacity of the previous UWP regime. And these are not abstract metrics—they are lived improvements in the lives of Saint Lucians.
Contrast that with what we are seeing from the UWP today, hollow critiques and visionless projects, a mere three weeks or less from a general election. Sadly, Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet and the United Workers Party have offered the Saint Lucian populace little more. Their campaign has been marked by:
Empty Accusations: Claims that the SLP has “done nothing” are not only false but insulting to the intelligence of Saint Lucians who have seen and felt the change. No Policy Roadmap: The UWP has failed to articulate a coherent plan for economic recovery, youth empowerment, climate resilience, or social equity. Disregard for Facts: Their refusal to acknowledge the SLP’s achievements suggests either a wilful ignorance or a strategy rooted in misinformation. Lack of Grassroots Engagement: Unlike the SLP’s “Walk for Progress,” which mobilized support across all 17 constituencies, the UWP has not demonstrated meaningful connection with communities. To sum it up, the UWP continues to present political theatre rather than leadership grounded in truth, vision, and respect.
Come December 1, Saint Lucians, now with a clear verdict, will have no choice but to vote readiness (SLP) and reject recklessness (UWP). The contrast is stark. The SLP has governed with discipline, compassion, and clarity. The UWP, meanwhile, has yet to prove it understands the gravity of governance, let alone the aspirations of the people.
Chastanet continues to claim readiness but to claim readiness without a roadmap is reckless. To dismiss progress without evidence is dishonest. And to seek power without purpose is a betrayal of public trust.
Saint Lucians must ask: Who has shown up for the people? Who has built, not just blamed? Who has earned the right to lead?
The answer, by every measure of integrity and impact, is the Saint Lucia Labour Party.